BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed disease afflicting men in the United States. One in six men, or about 230,900 cases, will be diagnosed annually. Doctors believe that prostate cancer may begin with small changes in the size of the prostate gland cells, otherwise referred to as PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia). Men with high-grade PIN have a higher chance of already having cancerous cells in the prostate. Although 1 in 32 men will die of this disease, researchers say the death rate for prostate cancer is decreasing. Developments in research are helping doctors diagnose patients during the earlier phases.

CAUSES OF PROSTATE CANCER: Although the causes of prostate cancer are not known yet, there are risk factors associated with the disease. As men get older, the chance of them developing prostate cancer also increases. Studies have shown that prostate cancer is more common in blacks than in Caucasians. Blacks are also twice as likely to die from the disease. Diets that are high in red meats or high-fat dairy products are cited as putting men at a higher risk. Men with brothers or fathers diagnosed with prostate cancer are more likely to develop the disease, especially if their relatives were young upon diagnosis. Exercising, taking 50 milligrams of vitamin E, and adding more vegetables, fruits and grains can lower men's risk for prostate cancer.

COMBO SOLUTION: Researchers are exploring the use of two individually approved drugs as a potential treatment for prostate cancer, Taxotere and estramustine. Taxotere inhibits tubulin, a protein essential to cell division, thus preventing cancer cells from dividing and growing in number.

Estramustine is a combination of an anti-cancer medicine called an "alkylating agent" and the hormone estradiol. It kills cancer cells by damaging the DNA and stops them from dividing. Estramustine also works by lowering the amount of testosterone in the body. Researchers from the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center studied 334 men with prostate cancer and treated them for nearly 18 months with a combination dosage of Taxotere and estramustine. Researchers also treated 332 prostate cancer patients with standard chemotherapy for nearly 16 months. The combo treatment group survived 20-percent longer than the standard therapy, in addition to having their cancer slowed by half. Side-effects of this treatment include nausea, fatigue, hair loss, infections from lowered blood counts, and blood clots. Although the incidence of side-effects was greater, mainly due to gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems, mortality rate was not increased. The Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved the combination use of Taxotere and estramustine to treat prostate cancer.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Linda Betharte
Public Affairs
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
627 West 165th St., Suite 621
New York, New York 10032
(212) 305-5587

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